I recall being invited to preach at a larger Church in another Province in the late 1980’s. The rector told me that I had 20 minutes because it was an 8am Communion Service, followed by a 9am Worship Service. I prepared accordingly. The clergyman leading the service said to me as I was getting up to preach … “You have 10 minutes to preach. This is a Communion Service.” My heart dropped as my message was prepared for 20 minutes. In another Church where I pastored, people expected a sermon not longer than 20 minutes. This seems to be what my predecessor provided. I was not favored by some because I preached longer than what was wanted or expected. I always marveled at how long people could sit in front of the TV watching movies but in Church their attention span was so limited. Their souls could absorb hours of movies but only minutes of God’s Word. I wonder what they would have done if they were present at Troas where Paul preached from the one day right through the night until the morning broke? Please read:
Ac 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
1) Celebrating the Lord’s Day, Supper and a Fellowship Meal.
Ac 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.
By this stage in the life of the Christian Church, worship was on the First Day of the week in commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection on the First Day of the week. Through His Resurrection, Jesus brought to an end the Old Covenant, which included the Sabbath Day Worship which was from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and inaugurated the New Covenant in His Blood with a new day of Worship being on the Sunday. His Resurrection started the “New Creation” as distinct from the “Old” and was celebrated on the First Day of the week which became known as the Lord’s Day. See:
Rev 1:10 On the Lord’s Day.
It was distinctly different to the Sabbath Day which was celebrated from the Friday evening through to the Saturday evening. The Lord’s Day was seen as Midnight to Midnight. To gather in celebration of the Lord’s Day would have been in the evening due to most people having to work and only being able to meet after work had ended for the day. Interestingly, the Breaking Bread would have been a Fellowship Meal coupled to the Lord’s Supper. This was a regular part of the gathering as worshipers would come straight to the gathering from work. They ate food and celebrated a communion service. Some Churches do this every Sunday whilst some do it on a frequent basis. With all the business of life, husband and wife working, children at school, housework, etc. and Saturdays reserved for children’s sports, shopping and gardening, there is little time for true fellowship with believers. Congregational Meals (Love Feats) after worship / Communion Services are great ideas.
2) Paul spoke to the people at length.
Ac 20:7 Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight
Ac 20:11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.
Both times the word “talking” is used it means “discourse, debate or conversation”. Because he needed to leave and progress with his journey towards Jerusalem, he spent the night (to midnight) and then until morning sunup talking. The idea seems as though he taught and the people listened and raised questions or comments during his “discourse”. Where preaching is one sided, it is a healthy idea to create such discussion groups (*maybe Bible Studies or Growth Groups) where people have the opportunity to ask questions about things they did not understand or were confused about. I am not suggesting we speak throughout the night! Paul’s case was different to our rather normal and stable environments.
3) Lighting up the room. Remember, there was no electricity in the First Century! Because they met at night they would use oil lamps to light up the room. This was an upper room on the third floor. Again it is unclear how the floors would be numbered. Was the ground floor number 1 or was the first floor number 1? All we know is that it was upstairs and called “the third story” by Luke. The important point here is that with all the lamps burning, the oxygen was burning up behind closed doors. In the place of oxygen came carbon dioxide. Your body needs oxygen. Once you start breathing carbon dioxide, your body slows down and because carbon dioxide is an asphyxiant, your brain is affected.
Ac 20:8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.
4) Eutychus sleeping, falling and dying. Although being at a window, the oil lamp producing carbon dioxide, together with tiredness from a day’s work and being near midnight caused him to fall asleep. It is quite humorous that Luke writes … sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. Once in a deep sleep he fell out of the window, from the third story and was picked up dead!
Ac 20:9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
Luke, a medical doctor was satisfied this young man was dead. Is this humor a subtle lesson not to sleep in a Church service?
5) Paul to the rescue.
Ac 20:10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”
Here Paul is doing what Elijah and Elisha did in 1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4. It’s seems as through the embrace could have been something like artificial respiration is as used today.
6) The conversing is not yet done. Once Eutychus’s life was restored, Paul returned upstairs, had something to eat, likely not to be hungry on his journey, spoke until it was light and left.
Ac 20:11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
(a) The trip to Jerusalem would result in hardship for Paul. He knew this. We as followers of Jesus ought to be ready for any hardships. The road we travel is not intended to be easy.
(b) Paul might have spoken all night and throughout the night but what it shows us is that he used the time he had at his disposal to the best of his ability. Let’s use our time prudently as time passes and the end draws near.
Our Father, may we never tire of being with our eternal family at Church, especially around the Lord’s Table and in fellowship. Help us to use such times as a preparation for our togetherness with You in Glory. Amen.